Comments:
I had a choice to do Sets 1-4 twice (second round w/toys) or either a T90/T120. None of the options were a compelling choice and heavy rain appeared to be imminent.

FCGU Coach Neil had a group of swimmers doing a workout but lanes were available, he looked at my workout and then put me in a lane next to a lane with a freshman walk-on distance swimmer who did sets 1-4 with me. I had to work so hard all the way to try to stay close to her as she was finishing about 2-3 seconds ahead of me.

After Set 4, I did not think I could manage another round, and since the college swimmers were leaving, I chose to do a T60, timing the first 500 and the finishing 500. I am glad I did it, because I had not done an hour straight swim since early January. I feel stronger in the water from doing quality swimming sets, but I still need to get in some longer straight swims more often in preparation for the USMS National 5K in Lake Miramar April 27.

My arms ached so much for about two hours afterwards, then calmed to nearly normal with an assortment of recovery activities, food and liquids. The dark clouds that seemed about to unleash the next 40 days of rain simply went away and the sun was shining with blue skies, birds singing, etc., when I started the T60.

Comments

That is cranking, but perfect prep work for the 5K. I totally forgot about that race happening this year. One of my colleagues retired near there and he's into triathlons; he's not a hardcore swimmer, but he told me it is a great lake to swim in. You should be well prepared for it.

That is cranking, but perfect prep work for the 5K. I totally forgot about that race happening this year. One of my colleagues retired near there and he's into triathlons; he's not a hardcore swimmer, but he told me it is a great lake to swim in. You should be well prepared for it.

Thanks. I swam the same race last year (last minute decision, entering just before the deadline) when the USMS Masters 5K followed the USAS National 5K Championships. With many potentially participating swimmers at USMS Nationals during the same time, I was able to place first in my age and a third for masters men overall. This year I expect a lot more competition, so need to prepare as best possible.

The course is a three lap dog leg loop, where depending on the time of day and weather circumstances, a strong wind can whip up the wave chop going into and returning through the narrow channel between lakes, which was the case last year. I like swimming in choppy wavy water and swam through a lot of it in previous OW swims many years ago.

Terrific set of 200s. I think descending 200s are the toughest distance to do. They are partly mental and partly physical. Also the 200s seem to build and hold lactic acid like no other distance. Really great set Frank. It looks like your preparations are progressing really well.

Terrific set of 200s. I think descending 200s are the toughest distance to do. They are partly mental and partly physical. Also the 200s seem to build and hold lactic acid like no other distance. Really great set Frank. It looks like your preparations are progressing really well.

Thanks. I fear repeat quality 200s more than any other distance. The interval of 3:00 is very challenging for me swimming at 2:10 and faster. When done, I thanked the young lady who swam the set with me for pushing and leading me to do all of them with such an effort.

T60 - wow. Reminds me of a swim-a-thon I did a couple weeks ago! YIKES!!
Nice job on the 200s as well.

Thanks. I am now faster doing freestyle in workouts for 200s and over than I was in high school swimming, but I do not expect to ever come close to what I could do in college.

I remember that swim-a-thon where you did over 5000 under 60, that was a great swim something like a 1:10/100 pace including several brief stops. Your potential for OW swimming is excellent with your training. There must be some great lake swims in Washington.

Thanks. I am now faster doing freestyle in workouts for 200s and over than I was in high school swimming, but I do not expect to ever come close to what I could do in college.

I remember that swim-a-thon where you did over 5000 under 60, that was a great swim something like a 1:10/100 pace including several brief stops. Your potential for OW swimming is excellent with your training. There must be some great lake swims in Washington.

There are quite a few swims available, though a lot of the lake swims are high altitude and/or glacier fed lakes, so they tend to be on the cold side. Last summer was unusually warmer, so that helped out a bit on the water temps, and I was able to do 3 OW swims. I wasn't in the greatest shape for any of them either, and that's probably why I don't "like" OW swimming. I'm sure if I was in good shape during that time of year, it would be better.

A fun one to do, is the Sandpoint Long Bridge Swim. Last year it had something like 900+ people in the swim. It's 1.76 miles across Lake Pend Orreille in northern Idaho. You get to parellel a bridge the whole way, so sighting isn't a major issue. Last year we had quite a lot of chop coming from the direction we were headed, so it made progress a bit slower than usual.http://longbridgeswim.org/
The only negative is that it's over a 4 hour drive from here to there. Lots of variables as well to worry about that time of year...mostly work.